“Play here” — Cuomo wants to make New York the baseball bubble

Gov. Andrew Cuomo shakes hands with retired Mets star David Wright in 2016, back when human contact was safe. Photo via Governor’s Office/Flickr

By David Brand

With the future of the Major League Baseball season uncertain, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a pitch to teams based in states where COVID is surging: “play here.”

“I offer to Major League Baseball, if you’re having problems playing in other states, come play here,” Cuomo said.

He proposed a plan in which teams travel directly from New York airports to hotels, where they remain in quarantine. He said teams could play out the rest of the season in New York ballparks.

“New York state could host any Major League Baseball game that any teams want to play and they could play those games in our stadiums,” he said. “New York state has one of the lowest infection rates in the United States. New York state has a full Department of Health protocol system in place. We have a testing system in place.”

A COVID-19 outbreak among the Miami Marlins has plunged the 60-game baseball season into chaos less than a week after Opening Day. 

So far, at least 17 players and staff for the Marlins have tested positive for the illness. The ballclub plays in Miami, the current epicenter of the pandemic. 

MLB has postponed two games between the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies after the Phillies played a three game series against the Marlins.

The Mets are scheduled to begin a three game set with the Marlins starting Aug. 7.